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AS IT IS
Native Hawaiians Divided on Federal Recognition
February 08, 2019
FILE - In this June 23, 2014 file photo, Laulani Teale, left, and Liko Martin, right, sing while Palani Vaughan, center rear, holds up a copy of Queen Liliuokalani's protest of the overthrow of Hawaii at the Hawaii state Capitol in Honolulu.
More than 100 years ago, the American government took control of the Hawaiian islands and took away Native Hawaiians’ land rights.
Now, officials at the United States Civil Rights Commission are urging lawmakers to permit Native Hawaiians to establish their own independent government.
But many Native Hawaiians reject the idea. They say they will not accept anything less than Hawaii’s complete independence. And, they say, they want control of more than 400,000 hectares of the islands’ land.
How did we get here?
Sailors from Polynesia first settled the Hawaiian Islands around the year 400. For more than 1,000 years, the Native Hawaiians lived together in small groups, farmed and fished for their needs, and governed themselves. In the late 1700s, one native leader overpowered the others and united the islands into a single kingdom.
But in the early 1800s, the area changed sharply. Other groups came. Many Native Hawaiians died from the new diseases that came with the foreigners. Others were forced from their lands to permit the newcomers to create large sugar cane farms. American planters soon dominated the islands’ economy.
In time, the planters, United States government officials and Marines ousted from power Hawaii’s last ruler, Queen Liliʻuokalani. In 1898 the U.S. government officially annexed Hawaii, and in 1959 named it the country’s 50th state.
Today Native Hawaiians are only about 20 percent of the state’s population.
Calls for sovereignty
Noelani Goodyear-Ka’opua is an expert on Native Hawaiian social movements. She is also Native Hawaiian, or Kanaka Maoli.
Ka’opua says Native Hawaiians have been protesting the loss of their rights and calling for sovereignty since the 1800s. But they do not always agree on what they are asking for. Some want to form a government and operate as a kind of nation-within-a-nation, like Native American tribes on the U.S. mainland. Others want to be a country independent from the United States.
In 2014, U.S. government officials held a number of hearings across Hawaii to learn what Native Hawaiians thought about forming their own government. A large majority of people who spoke in the hearings said they did not want it. Instead, they argued the U.S. violated international law when it removed the queen as ruler. The kingdom, they say, continues to exist.
Yet in 2016, the U.S. government released a final rule to permit Native Hawaiians to form a government – in other words, the nation-within-a-nation solution.
Noelani Goodyear-Ka’opua points out that the rule does not permit Native Hawaiians control of any land currently controlled by the U.S. government.
“How is this in any way to our benefit?” she asks. “We wouldn’t even be getting the crappy deal that Native American nations have. And once you accept a lesser deal, a better deal is impossible.”
Another Hawaiian historian does not reject the U.S. government’s offer completely. Bavianna McGregor is a founding member of the Department of Ethnic Studies at the University of Hawaii, Manoa. She says the U.S. officially recognizing that Native Hawaiians have the right to govern themselves is an important step toward full independence.
She says she hopes to see an independent Native Hawaiian government within an independent Hawaii. But, she says, she does not think she it will happen in her lifetime.
I’m Caty Weaver.
Cecily Hilleary wrote this story for VOANews.com. Kelly Jean Kelly adapted her report for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.
We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.
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Words in This Story
dominate – v. to overpower and take control
annex – v. to seize
benefit – n. something that leads to good results
crappy – adj. of poor quality
AS IT IS
Thai Princess Enters Race for Prime Minister
February 08, 2019
TIn this March 24, 2010, file photo, Thai Princess Ubolratana poses for a photo at the Thai Gala Night in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)
The older sister of Thailand’s king says she will run for prime minister in elections to be held next month.
The move by Princess Ubolratana Mahidol breaks a long-held Thai tradition of keeping the royal family independent from politics. She is the sister of Thailand’s current King Maha Vajiralongkorn, and the oldest daughter of former King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
On Friday, King Maha criticized his sister’s action. He said it “conflicts with the country’s traditions, customs and culture.”
The 67-year-old princess was nominated Friday by the opposition Thai Raksa Chart Party. The party is linked to former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra and his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra. Each had served as Thailand’s prime minister until they were ousted.
The Thai Raksa Chart Party was launched in November by relatives and supporters of the Shinawatras. Parties linked to the Shinawatras have won every Thai election in recent years.
The family still remains popular in many areas, especially in the rural northeastern provinces.
Princess Ubolratana currently does not have the same official standing in Thailand as other members of the royal family. She had to give up her highest royal titles more than 40 years ago when she married an American man and moved to the United States. However, she is still very popular in Thailand and is commonly called and treated as a princess.
Because Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, the king and other royal family members are not supposed to get directly involved in politics. Traditionally, Thailand’s royal family has had close ties to the military.
Princess Ubolratana confirmed her decision to run in a message on Instagram, saying she desires to “lead the country to prosperity.”
Thailand’s current prime minister is Prayuth Chan-o-cha. He is a former army chief who led the 2014 military coup that ousted the country’s last elected government, led by Yingluck Shinawatra.
Prayuth also accepted on Friday the nomination as a candidate for prime minister from his military-backed party. He has been considered the front-runner for the March 24 elections. Observers say this is because his government has made changes to the constitution and election rules that make it difficult for political parties without military backing to win.
Some political experts say Ubolratana’s entry could greatly change the campaign because she is a different kind of candidate. The Thai royal family enjoys a very high level of popularity and respect among the public. Thailand also enforces strict laws banning criticism of the king or other royal family members.
Allen Hicken is a political scientist at the University of Michigan who specializes in Southeast Asian studies. He called the decision a “game changer” for the race. “In the event Thaksin-aligned parties win the election, it makes it very difficult for the military and royalists to contest, protest, or seek to overturn the result,” Hicken said.
I’m Bryan Lynn.
The Associated Press reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.
We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.
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Words in This Story
royal – adj. of or relating to a king or queen
title – n. name that describes someone’s position or job
constitutional monarchy – n. system of government in which a country is ruled by a king and queen whose power is limited by a constitution
prosperity – n. the state of being successful usually by making a lot of money
contest – v. to say formally something is wrong or unfair and should be changed
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